'Spirit Train' Blockade Ends After 3 Hours

BREAKING NEWS
For Immediate Release
October 12, 2008

Activists Blockade of CP Rail Tracks Successfully Disrupted Olympic Spirit Train
Rail blockade backs up trains across the country in an escalation of resistance to the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympic games

Toronto, Ontario – Moments ago a group of activists from Toronto, Waterloo, London, Kitchener, Guelph, and 6 Nations ended a blockade on Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway's train tracks in opposition to the Spirit Train.

Activist locked themselves down to the tracks at 5:00pm and hung banners off of the rail overpass on highway 27 near Elder Mills. The protest was organized in solidarity with the Olympics Resistance Network (ORN) and their call to disrupt CP's "Spirit Train" that is traveling across Canada.

"Today we shed light on what the Olympics really stands for; capitalist greed and colonialist theft of Indigenous lands" said Winnie Small. She continued, "In stark contrast to Canada's cherished reputation as a human rights advocate, our First Nations live in abject poverty; casualties of Canada's apartheid policies, and its refusal to respect Indigenous rights to their own land."

The activists successfully negotiated a peaceful dispersal after more than three hours. No arrests were made and the activists were able to leave the area without incident. CP Police Officer told the activists' liaison that trains had been backed up "across the country" and that the delay cost the company "millions of dollars."

The "Spirit Train" was launched Sunday Sept. 21, 2008, in Port Moody, B.C. where activists from the ORN, Anti-Poverty Committee, and the Native Youth Movement successfully disrupted it. To the embarrassment of its corporate sponsors, the Spirit Train, still rolling across the country, has been disrupted at several locations with protesters often outnumbering supporters.

For interviews, photo images and B-roll please contact:
Dan Kellar 519 616 4462
Chris Buck 416 708 0834

For more information about Olympic Resistance
No2010.com
Peaceculture.org

CTV News Oct 12, 2008:

Rail line blocked in Ontario in Olympic protest

The Canadian Press

VAUGHAN, Ont. -- Protesters say they have barricaded a rail line north of Toronto in hopes of stopping CP Rail's Olympic Spirit Train.

Protester Dan Keller says about 20 non-violent activists have assembled on the rail line with one woman having chained herself to the tracks.

At this time, York Region police are monitoring the situation.

Buck says the group is attempting to block the Spirit Train's route to bring attention to unresolved, issues with aboriginals, the poor and the environment related the staging of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The Spirit Train left Port Moody, B.C., on Sept. 21, on a cross-Canada voyage to promote the Games.

The train spent Saturday in Sudbury, Ont., and was scheduled to travel south to Mississauga on Sunday.

Protests cast shadow on Olympic spirit
ctvtoronto.ca

The Olympic Spirit train is thundering through the Greater Toronto Area Monday, trying to get Canadians excited about the 2010 Vancouver Games. But the train is not only rallying support, it is also attracting its fair share of protests.

Protesters say the Olympic Games are nothing but a symbol of capitalist greed.

Police were on standby Monday afternoon at the Cooksville Go Train station in Mississauga Monday afternoon to monitor the crowd gathered to meet the train.

On Sunday night, authorities had to step in when about 25 people blocked a CP rail line in Woodbridge to protest aboriginal, environmental and poverty issues. One woman even chained herself to the tracks.

Police managed to dismantle the blockade after about an hour.

"They listened to reasoning and they're dispersing," Sgt. Mike Sterchele of York Regional Police told The Canadian Press late Sunday night. "We always like to negotiate thise things to a peaceful end."

No arrests were made.

Protesters say the Olympics symbolize corporate greed and that the 2010 Games are being held illegally no native lands.

One protester said the blockades are a sign of solidarity.

"This is an act of solidarity with those First Nations on the West Coast," Dan Keller said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press.

"The ultimate aim of this is of course to stop the Spirit train," he said.

Breanne Feigel, spokesperson for CP Rail, said the company is "concerned" about the protests.

"Certainly in this case, we were extremely concerned as this form of protest poses a serious safety risk," she said.

While protesters have met the train at each stop across the country, the Spirit Parties have managed to prevail. The free event features local entertainment and special appearances by Olympic athletes. Colin James was expected to perform at 6 p.m. at Monday's event in Mississauga.

CP Rail said in a news release the train is a "mobile ambassador moving the Olympic spirit to Canadian communities."

The train took off from Port Moody, B.C. on Sept. 21 and headed across Canada.

Cooksville station is the train's eighth stop.

With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV Toronto's Naomi Parness